San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-01-07
MUNICIPAL ECONOMY.

the OlUerenC6 DtIWetH plOht nhu iooo III
the conduct OF his business. Plant two
industries side by side and equip one
with the old, cumbersome machinery OF
last decade or last century and the other
with all the latest and most improved
machinery, and the first must go to the
wall. Plant two cities side by eide
under the most equal conditions posi-
BILE and commit the one to the old I'M
progressive ideas and methods Of mum
icipal government, common half-ceh-
tury since, and commit the other to such
municipal government as the advanced
ideas OF the present have approved, and
the last named city will distance the
other In the race for population, trade,
progress, development and increased
wealth. The only question in making
improvements in business or In munici
pal matters is question OF wise and
necessary expenditure. The demands
Of necessity must be met; the spirit and
judgment in which they are met depends
naturally upon the wisdom OF the direc-
ton under whose voice and hand the
needed changes are carried out. To
delay action after necessity demands
change only increases the ultimate ex-
pense, and at the same time deprives OF
the advantages TO be reaped from the
improved condition. The economic use
Of the money to be expended in improve
ments, private or municipal, once as
sured, the Weldon of making such i'm
provements cannot be questioned, par
ticulsrly II the yearly cost Of maintain
ing the cid expensive order will main
tain the interest charge on the cost OF
such changes. San Antonio needs sew
ers. Every Intelligent citizen under
stands the pressing nature OF this need.
Every year will only add to the cost Of
making these improvements, because
every year our streets will be more
thoroughly paved and settled and the
cost of tearing them up will be cores
pondingly increased. Every year our
unheal,hfulness as a city will increase.
and the tax upon us as individuals to
meet thls.condltion must be taken into
account. Every year strangers seeking
settlement and business openings in
Texas cities will come and inspect us
and turn away because of our lack OF
sewers, good streets and other improve
ments naturally looked for in q city of
our size and pretensions. The loss thus
sustained Is legitimately taxable against
the present system, and when it Is all
summed up the charge would be greater
than the cost OF the necessary ex-
pense in putting the city into first class
habitable condition. This is not all,
however. The city ordinances require
certain things of our citizens in the way
of privy constructions, disinfectings and
cleanings, that if rigidly complied
with would prove source OF
constantly: Increasing expense to the cit.
liens. Compel every citizen to con-
struct his ,water-tight cement vault &C.
oording to ordinance; then compel them
to keep them emptied and disinfected
according to ordinance; foot up the
yearly cost of such constructions and
place II TO the credit OF the interest
fund on the bonds necessary to construct
sewers and see how fully it would meet
that expense. Consider how the beau
tiful river, OF which We boast so much
and 80 justly, is polluted by the waste
pipes from sinks 10 hotels, offices and a
few private houses, discharging their
foulness into Ii. The more the whole
subject is considered, the more impers.
pear, which will drain all our impuri
ties away from, not into, the river, and
bear it beyond the city limits for fertil-
izing purposes. The city needs sewers;
needs them now; has needed them for
many years. There ia but one way TO
secure them; bond the city for their
construction and commence the work.
This can only be done by amending the
present city charter so as to permit the
council to undertake this work. 1t
should be done now. For the next two
or three years, until the wave of pros
perty which is rolling our way comes
in more strongly, our unemployed labor
would find such work of municipal
Improvement a veritable blessing. The
advantage OF u good system of sc leverage
and plaza and street Improvements
would reach our lsbOring people first,
and by giving employment to unem-
plOyed hundreds, tighten the burdens OF
municipal charity, and give honest
industry an opportunity to provide for
those of its own household.
AUSTIN has counted noses and figures
nffU-aiuhf hallnta for IN tho H.